We better beat the pacers by 10+ pts.

I think Vince is their fourth best/most important player. Howard, Nelson, Lewis, and then Vince. He isn't going to be expected to carry the team. He's just another piece around Howard. Posted by: JB | October 29, 2009 at 09:21 AM ======================== That is exactly the problem. As dominant as Dwight is against inferior D I don't see his limited offense helping him much against Sheed/KG AND Perkins. I just don't see it.

Chris, why do you think Washington is better than Miami or Toronto?

Any team that adds and counts on Vince Carter will not be a NBA champ favorite. Posted by: Adam | October 29, 2009 at 09:14 AM ======================== +1000 Besides, the Magic don't have enough offensive arsenal to overcome Boston's defense with KG and Rasheed. The only way the Magic get to the finals is if another team with better offense and an okay defense take out the Celtics. This year, like the last, will all be about matchups.

Haslem taking time away from Beasley learning is not going to help this team in the long haul. Posted by: Adam | October 29, 2009 at 09:04 AM =========================== He played way too many minutes last night. Against the short Knicks that was okay but I expect his minutes to be limited to 24. If Beasley is the PF then let him play most of his minutes at the 4. No sucking up to Haslem and trying to get him his minutes. They will still only produce 10/8 at best.

I called it. Shaq and LeBron were at best 3rd best in the East. I have to revise top 2 though. 1. Celtics 2. Magic

Brad Miller Posted by: BigSarge - on top of the hill! | October 28, 2009 at 09:53 PM ============================ If JO plays like he did today then no trade...obviously.

hope to see Beasley get some better rebounding numbers. Posted by: Adam | October 28, 2009 at 09:34 PM ======================== +10000 And also get stronger. He should get it all together a bit more by midseason.

Raptors beating the Cavs.

The Cavs need to sort themselves out. They need to establish Shaq in the post and keep LeBron happy.

Bosh can't play the 5. He's being bullied by an old Shaq...and Bosh is motivated because of the RuPaul name.

The Cavs have gone to the Shaq play....ha ha ha

Is RuPaul bigger?

"We all need to get out of this illusion that him not being a starter means he's not going to be key in certain minutes of the game," Wade said. "At certain times, you need a player like him in the ballgame. ... There's going to be some times where, yeah, I'm going to look over and say 'Get him in." Posted by: Ohshz | October 28, 2009 at 06:11 PM ======================== I hope that never happens and Wade is patient with the kid. Let Spo do the coaching...

Le-Travel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFzO4L-q74c LOL Posted by: Somedorkontheweb | October 28, 2009 at 03:28 PM ==================== I also couldn't believe it. To be fair though they called a fairer game...some of the calls that went the C's way (correctly) allowed them to pull off the win. However, like I've always maintained. The East is 1. Magic 2. Celtics (minor drop off) 3. Heat (homer ranking) 4. Cavs

I was joking too. Posted by: Chris | October 28, 2009 at 03:06 PM ======================= OOps...

In fact this might be the longest post ever without a single correct point in it. One for the record books. Posted by: Chris | October 28, 2009 at 02:38 PM =========================== Which part of conjecture don't you understand? Get off my back...I'm allowed joke once in a while...

Michael Beasley, Heat: Obviously, worries abound given his rehab stint in the offseason, but offensively this guy's numbers are off the charts. As a first-year pro with one year of college experience he averaged 22.4 points per 40 minutes last season and shot 40.7 percent on 3s; I can't get those numbers out of my head. Beasley should see a big spike in minutes this season, and I'm pleased that the Heat appear to have relented and moved him to his natural power forward spot rather than squeezing him in at the 3. If he keeps his head on straight, his numbers should blow up in response. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-091029 ======================== John Hollinger on Beasley. (per realgm post) Absolute awesomeness!

So who's the real coach of this team? Wade, Riley or Spoelstra? Posted by: ElHeat | October 28, 2009 at 01:51 PM ========================== Wade and Riley. Riley probably said Beasley must start. Wade had to pick between his homeboy QRich and his rookie mate UD. Homeboy will win 11 times out of 10. Haslem run out of luck when QRich got to town. Otherwise Bease would have been at SF. Riley is smarter than Wade which is why he traded for homeboy QRich. Of course this is all pure conjecture...from a mere mortal.

Wade supports the adjustment, but said his trust and unique bond with Haslem on the court won't be broken by the lineup change. ``We told Udonis not to look at it as losing his starting spot,'' Wade said. ``It takes more than a good first unit to win. I'm sure there are going to be times I'm out there and will say, `Get Udonis in and sit Michael down.' '' http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/basketball/miami-heat/story/1304536.html ===================== Wade is calling the shots! Leo and Slludge were right!

according to those stats Al Harrington went for 21 and Wilson Chandler went for 21. even Jeffries had 10. thats about 51 points coming from the forward spotS. And where are Galinari's stats didn't he play in that game? just asking? Posted by: Pay Per View aka Dr. EVIL... | October 28, 2009 at 01:24 PM ========================= So Beasley was guarding the 3 forwards throughout the entire game. Right!!!!

Fact check: In our championship series against the Mavs, Haslem gave up almost 30pts per game while averaging almost 10pts per game. We instantly proclaimed Haslem as our "stalwart defender" in that series. Reality is that if we had lost that series we'd have put him right back on the bench where he belongs. Fact is that winning makes all of the difference. We didn't win because of Haslem's stellar defense, we won because Wade had enough help to make his carrying the team more effective. Beasley provides that help now given the talent on our roster. Haslem lost his spot the minute we lost Shaq.

I already know the Beasley move is going to be great. I mean if it weren't why will there be so much retarded hate? Even Ira has accepted the inevitability of Beasley being a better PF than Haslem. Spo, with a photo of Haslem in his office/wallet, has come to terms with it. Yet the haters are out in full force... Let's go Heat!

Haslem started the game we were down 20 in, just to let you know. Check the stats. Posted by: d_webz | October 28, 2009 at 01:09 PM ====================== http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200902280MIA.html

Haslem started the game we were down 20 in, just to let you know. Check the stats. Posted by: d_webz | October 28, 2009 at 01:09 PM ========================= Something tells me he doesn't care about the facts. He just wants to find a way to dog Beasley, that's all. He'll swing anything he thinks will stick...good for him.